Kullu Dasehra off to a colourful start

Abhinav Vashisht

KULLU, OCTOBER 11

Kullu MLA Maheshwar Singh and his family, the descendants of Raja Jagat Singh, the erstwhile ruler of Rupi (Kullu) valley, and others led the Shobha Yatra that started from Raghunathpur, the sanctum of the chief deity of Kullu, while the idols of Lord Rama and Sita were placed in a beautifully decorated wooden chariot (Rath) at the northern end of Dhalpur Maidan marking the beginning of the seven-day Dasehra celebrations here today.

Hundreds of devotees pulled the rath amidst the beating of drums accompanied by mellifluous shehnais. The rath was pulled up to the camp temple of Raghunathji that was erected in the middle of the maidan where religious activities and meeting of local Gods and Goddesses will be carried out during the festival.

Many palanquins of Gods and Goddesses with their procession and bands accompanied Raghunathji in the Rath Yatra. Men, women and children in their traditional folk dresses, besides hundreds of foreign and domestic tourists, gathered to watch the spectacular event.

About 245 deities from various parts of Kullu district are participating in the festival this year. Kullu Dasehra differs from the Dasehra festival celebrated all over the country. This festival commences at Kullu when Dasehra festivities in the rest of the country conclude. Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat participated in the Rath Yatra and felicitated the people of the valley. He said the people of the state deserved appreciation for preserving their rich culture, age old customs and traditions in the present era of modernisation.

Later, the Governor inaugurated the exhibitions put up by various government departments, boards, corporations and other non-government organizations. He visited the stalls and appreciated the exhibits. The Governor also performed pooja at Raghunathji camp temple at Dhalpur ground. The Governor inaugurated the week-long International Folk Dance Festival by performing pooja and lighting a lamp at Kala Kendra in the evening.

Chairman of the Kullu Dasehra Festival Committee and Ayurveda and Cooperative minister Karan Singh welcomed the Governor. Yunus Khan, Deputy Commissioner and Vice-Chairman, Kullu Dasehra Festival Committee thanked the Governor.